Immaculate Conception of the Old One

Pattern of Central America in a broad sense

La Immaculate Conception of the Old One, also known as La Purísima, is an ancient Marian image venerated in the city of El Viejo, department of Chinandega, in Nicaraguawhere it is recognized as the center of national devotion to the Immaculate and origin of many popular expressions such as La Gritería. There is no relationship with Colombia; it is clearly a Nicaraguan advocation.

Main data

Origin and history

La Immaculate Conception of the Old One, also known as La Purísima, is an ancient Marian image venerated in the city of El Viejo, department of Chinandega, in Nicaraguawhere it is recognized as the center of national devotion to the Immaculate and origin of many popular expressions such as La Gritería. There is no relationship with Colombia; it is clearly a Nicaraguan advocation.

Tradition and legend. The pious tradition links the image to the family of Saint Teresa of Jesus (from Avila). According to this tradition, the size would have belonged to the Santa Teresa and would have been brought to America by one of his brothers, identified in different versions as Rodrigo o Lorenzo de Cepedawho traveled to Peru in the 16th century. A strong storm would have forced him to stop in the area of the current port of El Realejo; moved by the devotion of the people, he would have left the image in the church of El Viejo, where he remained definitely. The sources emphasize that this is preserved as tradition of the elderly, supported by old local testimonies, but without original documents to prove it with historical certainty.

Documented history. The historical sources agree that the image was already firmly established in El Viejo in the 17th century and that the temple was consolidated as an important Marian pilgrimage center. The image was solemnly crowned liturgical by the people in 1747, date in local tradition and in modern historical synthesis. In recent times, a Papal bull of 28 December 1988 gave the image the right to carry pontifical crown, privilege granted by John Paul II. Later, the sanctuary was raised to minor basilica el 20 December 1995also by the decision of John Paul II. The 13 May 2001the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua officially declared that the National patronage of the Immaculate falls in a particular way on this venerated image in the Old One.

The image and the sanctuary

The image of the Immaculate Conception of the Old is a package size relatively small, of 42 cm high. It is represented according to the classic model of the Immaculate: Young Mary, standing, with a pure and praying attitude, following the iconography spread by the Spanish school of the Golden Century, although the specific stylistic details (author, specific school) do not record with documentary certainty. It is commonly known as the “Virgen del Trono”by the throne on which it is exposed, and also as "The Purple." y “La Chinita”, very widespread names of affection in Nicaraguan religiosity.

The image is venerated in the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of the Old Onelocated in the city of El Viejo, department of Chinandega, Nicaragua. The temple, of colonial origin, was first parish and local sanctuary; in time it was consolidated as National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Conceptionreceiving a large influx of pilgrims from all over the country and from other Central American nations. The church, in a sober colonial style, has several ships and a wide presbytery; historically it has a nearby Franciscan convent, reflecting the strong imprint Franciscan and Spanish immaculist in the area. Since 1995 it has had the title of minor basilica, granted by John Paul II, which confirms his liturgical and pastoral importance.

Sponsorship and coronation

The Immaculate Conception of the Old is Pattern of the Republic of Nicaraguawith an explicit recognition by the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua, which in 2001 stated that the National patronage It lies on this concrete image, the oldest and most venerated representation of the mystery of the Purso in the country. The devotion radiates from El Viejo to all Nicaragua, and the Immaculate is also considered patron of Central America in a broad sense.

As for his coronation, two main milestones are:

– En 1747 se realizó una solemn liturgical coronation de la imagen por parte del pueblo, considerada un acto de reconocimiento oficial de su realeza espiritual sobre la comunidad creyente. – Mediante una Papal bull of 28 December 1988The pope. San Juan Pablo II gave the image the privilege to carry pontifical crown, which is equivalent to a canonical coronation in the current legal sense.

There is no previous documented canonical coronation other than this pontifical recognition of 1988.

Party and devotion

The main feast of the Immaculate Conception of El Viejo is held within the framework of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)with an extensive religious and popular programme covering the 28 November-8 Decemberand particular celebrations of the 6-7 December. El novenario begins on November 28, with masses and prayers of the Holy Rosary in the morning and novies with great popular participation in the afternoon.

El 6 December the traditional rite of the “Lavada de la Plata”in which the silver dish of the sanctuary is solemnly cleansed as a gesture of honor to the Virgin. On that day a concelebrated mass presided over by the diocesan bishop is held, after which the image is lowered from his shrimp for the near veneration of the faithful, who come in great numbers to thank favors and to fulfill promises.

El 7 December The famous popular party known as "The Shout"celebrated not only in El Viejo but throughout the country, in which the Nicaraguan people honor the Immaculate with songs, domestic altars and exclamation of Marian jubile. The 8 December, day of solemnity, begins with "moranias" and Marian songs at first hour, followed by the solemn mass chaired by the Bishop and great procession by the streets, which ends at night, with a multitude of devotees from various parts of the country. The sources mention the presence of miles de peregrinos each year to the shrine of El Viejo, making this feast one of Nicaragua's greatest religious events.

Link to the Rosary

The sources explicitly describe that, during the Noviary prior to solemnity, if he reza diariamente el Holy Rosary in the sanctuary of the Immaculate of the Old, particularly in the morning celebrations, integrating the rosary into the very heart of spiritual preparation to the feast. The prayer of the Rosary is also mentioned before some solemn acts, such as the rise of the image to its shrimp at the end of certain celebrations.

Although there is no specific devotion to the Rosary exclusive of this advocation (as a historical fellowship of the Rosary directly linked to the image), the usual practice shows that the Rosario is one of the main modes of expression of Marian piety around La Purísima de El Viejo. In the context of this advocation, the Rosary:

– ayuda a contemplar los mysteries of Christ's life desde la mirada de María Inmaculada; – sostiene la spiritual preparation del pueblo para las grandes fiestas del 6–8 de diciembre; – une a las familias y comunidades que, en todo Nicaragua, se reúnen para honrar a la Inmaculada, especialmente en los días de La Gritería, donde la oración mariana se mezcla con cantos, alabados y expresiones populares de f